Thank you Dr. Laura!
I am a 44-year-old divorced mom with a lovely 11-year-old daughter. I have been listening to you for about a year. After hearing you talk about single parents dating, and how that is not good for the children, I have decided not to date until my daughter is 18.
I feel so good about this decision; I finally feel like I have clarity on the issue. I originally thought I would date when my daughter was with her father, but then I realized even though she is not with me, it will affect her in a negative way. Dating would take up my time emotionally and mentally; it would be another area of my life I would need to manage. Dating would take away my focus from raising my daughter. I feel like I am loving my daughter to the fullest capacity by not dating, and I do not feel deprived at all. I feel excited to know the next seven years are about my daughter not me.
I have to admit, I used to hear you talk about this topic and I didn't agree with you. But one day something clicked inside me and I finally saw the light. I know my daughter is already going through a difficult time with the divorce, and the last thing she needs is a parent preoccupied with dating. She deserves my full attention and love; it is my responsibility as her mother to be there for her in every way possible. Thank you Dr. Laura for being blunt and straightforward with the callers; listening to you enabled me to make this decision. I have never felt such complete clarity and excitement about raising my daughter.
Traci
